More than ten Golden Macedonian wreath, rare archeological finds, the last decade came to light thanks’ an unpredictable combination of excavations, lathranaskafwn and archaiokapilwn action. Eight wreaths found 2008 in the Thessaloniki metro excavation, two the 2009 and the 2010 in Vergína, a repatriated in Greece the 2007 from the Getty Museum and an American found even older, the 2000, farmer's hands, product archaiokapilias thought and came to the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki…
Based on these new findings, organized workshop in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, at 3 June. Scholars and excavators from Greece and abroad will be reported on the use of wreaths and their portrayal in art, technology and their typology.
This is the first time organized a Conference on this topic, as he explains in the «a» Despina Ignatiadou from the Organizing Committee, Head of the Department of Machining of AMTh Collection. "On the occasion of wreaths acquired recently asked the excavators to make presentation of the findings and we take this opportunity to re-evaluate and older», Adds.
According to the archaeologist of P’ Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities, Bettina Tsigarida, participating in the Organizing Committee and will present suggestions on the workshop, Macedonia is one of the areas of the ancient Greek world who gave a large number of metallinwn wreaths, dating from the mid 4th to mid-2nd century BC.
Made mainly from gold, but also from bronze or silver, with olive leaves, Myrtle, Laurel, Oak Ivy and rarest, wreaths are richer and more elaborate during the second’ half of the 4th century (the era of Philip II’ and m. Alexandrou), While then take shape and simplified.
In any case, the ancient Greek wreaths are objects that captivate audiences and archaeologists, It is sought after by collectors, while hiding many secrets. "There are many issues that we have not even decipher compared with wreaths and especially with their use", observes Ms. Ignatiadou. «Although we find on graves, There are funerary objects. Used in real life, as shown by the minimal information that rescue sources. It was personal belongings which they wore in ceremonies; What were these ceremonies; ITAN rites of initiation; What mysteries; Political, administrative or religious type; It was private or public character; And how plants representing with the gods; Is a lot that we don't know and we are trying now from the sets that have been identified to conclude», notes.
The best-known wreaths
The more barytimo wreath that survives from the Greek antiquity is the Golden oak wreath ((b)’ half of the 4th century BC.) found in the main Chamber of the Royal Tomb of Vergina, inside the Golden Larnax. Consists of 313 leaves and 68 Acorns and weighs 714 grams. The findings of the Royal Tombs of Vergina include two more Golden wreaths of Myrtle leaves and flowers of the 4th century BC.
In the 4th century BC. dating also both gold and olive Myrtle wreaths found in the 1960s on the tombs of Derveni, the gold wreath of olive leaves and flowers found in Stavroupoli Thessaloniki and gold wreath from the tomb of Sevasti Pieria.
Golden wreath of olive leaves of the 3rd century BC. from Amphipolis exposed at the Archaeological Museum of Kavala.
The major findings of the Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis included two gold oak and olive wreaths of the 4th BC. century.
The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki has 22 Golden Macedonian wreath, collection that is considered the richest in the world.
TIS CHRYSAS NANOU
Messenger, 17/05/2011
